HOT TOPIC

Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know

OUT OF THE BLUE

We’ve chosen a dusky blue colour palette for our wedding, but aren’t sure how to incorporate that into the flowers. Can you offer any advice?

Blue is one of the most popular colours when it comes to wedding palettes, in particular dusky, baby and powder hues. Not only are they romantically soft and subtle, they also suit any season from icy whites and frosty stems, to the brighter spring and summer seasons. However, blue isn’t a natural colour that bouquet focal flowers often come in, so it’s all about the foliage and filler flowers with this palette. Using silver-toned eucalyptus such as cinerea or populus brings an overall blue hue to a bouquet and this is something that’s readily available throughout the year. Dainty blooms such as oxypetalum can also be used in designs to create brighter flashes next to ivory or white. You’ll even find that some anemone varieties have blue tones at the very centre.

If finding fresh flowers proves tricky though, think about the receptacle they’ll be going in – pale blue glass vases or bottles can bring colour to the table even if the petals are neutral.

Jo Russell | Eliza Rose Artisan Floral Design www.theartisanflorist.com

www.rebeccadouglas.co.uk KEEP CALM AND MARRY ON

I’m feeling stressed and overwhlemed by the planning process. What are your top tips for planing a stress-free wedding?

If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the planning process then don’t panic. The ideal thing to do would be to hire a wedding planner who can take away all the worry and make organising your big day an enjoyable experience. If a wedding planner is out of your budget though, look for a good app or journal with time sensitive checklists to help you prioritise.

Try not to involve the entire wedding party. While many hands make light work, too many opinions can overwhelm you and steer you off course. Instead, choose one or two members of your posse you can rely on who’ve been through the process before. Finally, remember it’s all about the big picture. Your wedding day will be happiest day of your life and you’re marrying the love of your life!

We’re both foodies and value locally-sourced produce. We’d love to wow our guests with a top-notch menu. What options are available for the summer?

There are two things to consider when planning a summer wedding. Firstly, Kentish produce at this time of year is outstanding, which allows you to keep things simple and allow the fantastic ingredients to speak for themselves. Think dishes with recognisable flavours, executed well. Secondly, it isn’t always guaranteed to be a perfect Kentish summer’s day, so do consider how your food choices would work if you were unfortunate with the weather.

My recommended choice would be a barbecue with the wow factor coming from the flavours created in the cooking, combined with more of that fantastic local produce. Smoky charred notes, flavourful marinades, zingy dressings, crispy vibrant salads, crunchy sweet acidic pickling, perfectly ripe berries, it’s all seasonal flavour and it’s exactly what we love to eat at this time of year. Plus, you can be certain there’ll be a buzz among your guests as this style of menu creates a wonderfully relaxed and informal wedding breakfast for everyone.

It’s not possible for everything to be locally-sourced, so the important part is allowing what can be to shine through. For example, we all know Kentish strawberries and raspberries are delicious, so choose something like a Pavlova or Eton mess where these beautiful berries are the main attraction, but if it needs the zest of a non-Kentish lemon to elevate the dish, then why not use it?

James Crank | The Old Kent Barn www.theoldkentbarn.co.uk

www.olegssamsonovsphotography.com

https://jeffoliverphotography.com

THE BONDS OF LOVE

We’ve heard about some of the rituals we can have during a celebrant-led ceremony from hand-fasting to candle-lighting, but what’s the difference and how do we know which is right for us?

Using rituals within your wedding ceremony is a lovely way to add some personality to kick off your wedding celebrations. Hand-tying and unity candle ceremonies are currently two very popular elements chosen by couples and they’re used to symbolise different things. A hand-tying represents the bonds of marriage. You may recognise the term “tying the knot” and couples have enjoyed this ritual for hundreds of years, celebrating with the use of ribbons and/or cords, usually binding their hands together expressing joint vows and maybe involving family members.

A unity candle ceremony involves the use of individual tapers that work together to light a larger, family candle. The candles represent the individuality of the couple and uniting together to light the larger one represents the joining of two families. Additional loved ones can be included too, perhaps there are children from previous marriages or you may wish to involve parents or grandparents. This is a great ritual for those who want to celebrate the larger family unit, bringing everyone together.

Having a celebrant-led ceremony gives you so many options for using rituals within your wedding, including those that have a personal meaning to you. In fact, there’s nothing to stop you creating your own version, which could become a wonderful family tradition in the future.

AL FRESCO OPTIONS

We’d love an outdoor wedding, but don’t know where to start. What are the must-know essentials?

Outdoor weddings can be stunning and with glorious summer weather even better, but there are a number of things to consider. Top of this list would be making sure you check the legalities. If you’re opting for an outdoor ceremony, check the grounds of your chosen location are licensed. It’s fantastic news that outdoor weddings have recently been legalised permanently, however the venue grounds still need to be licensed for weddings, so do make sure you check.

Think about conditions too. We all know the good old British weather can be a bit hit and miss, so make sure you consider the time of year and plan accordingly. For example, if there’s a chance of rain you may wish to have shelter or umbrellas available. Chilly evenings may call for warm blankets and cushions. If it’s going to be super-hot, you may need parasols and a shelter for your guests so they can get some shade. You may also wish to provide sunscreen and insect repellent.

Choose suppliers who are used to setting up and delivering their service outside. For example, consider catering options that will work in an outdoor setting. You’ll also need to take into account aspects such as how your guests will get to the location, lighting, heating, toilets and other amenities – make sure all of the logistics are covered.

Bear your setting in mind when shopping for the big-day attire and dress accordingly. A huge and heavy dress and super-high heels aren’t going to work for a simple beach wedding, whereas jewelled sandals and a floaty or sheer dress will be just perfect.

Finally, always have a plan B! It helps to plan for every eventuality.

Becky Ramus | Waves Weddings and Events www.wavesweddingsandevents.com

https://heartfulloftea.com PICK OF THE BUNCH

I adore fresh flowers so my bridal bouquet is really important to me. I’d love it to feature some unusual blooms and colours outside of the usual wedding favourites of roses and peonies. Could you give me some inspiration?

There are plenty of gorgeous floral options available at different points throughout the year, which can be used to create untraditional and romantic arrangements. Your florist will know what’s in season at the time of your wedding, so work with them to create a colour palette that represents you and don’t be afraid to choose what feels personal to you.

During the springtime, ranunculus are a great option as they’re frilly with plenty of petals just like a rose or peony. They’re available in soft pinks, peaches and white as well as bold red and yellow. Tulips are another great choice during the spring and as well as coming in an array of colours there are lots of interesting varieties such as parrot, double petalled and frilly fringe tulips.

Dahlias are showstopping during the summer and autumn months. They come in an assortment of shapes and sizes in soft, neutral tones as well as bright and vivid hues. Using a range of dahlia varieties in your bouquet can certainly create a real impact.

On the other hand, winter is a great time for anemones, which are perfect if you love rich, jewel tones or classic, striking white. You can also embrace the festive season and use berries with rich foliage, such as ivy and pittosporum.